The Time of the Promise: Acts 7:17-18
““17) But as the time of the promise was approaching which God had assured to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, 18) until there arose another king over Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph.” Acts 7:17-18
History follows the promises of God. Just as God foretold to Abraham, the people went down to Egypt and there multiplied greatly. They were there for four hundred years.
But as the time of the promise was approaching, every piece of the puzzle started falling in place. A new king rose up over Egypt. He knew nothing of Joseph. He totally mistreated, enslaved and exploited the Hebrew people. Favor turned into hardship. He even plotted the death of the male children.
But God was in control. His greater plan was unfolding. His timing was perfect. Moses was born and the details of the Exodus started falling in place. The whole life of Moses was part of the story… including his brief exile.
Faith includes lining our life up with the next big promise of God. History has moved from promise to promise. The future will unfold from promise to promise.
The question we must wrestle with relates to where we are on Gods timeline? What pieces are coming together in our day to align the world with the next big promise of God? What smaller events have to come together for the next big promise to happen?
Many generations of people in history lived on the verge of a next big promise of God being fulfilled. Israel in Egypt was such a generation. Palestine during the birth, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ was such a generation. It included the Promise of the Father in giving the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:4-5) Centuries often pass between the big promises of God. Time appears to stand still for many generations. And then… the time for the next big promise arrives.
From our place on the timeline, the next big promise of God relates to the second coming of Christ. According to Matthew 24-25 and other New Testament prophecies, many smaller events will happen rapidly in preparation for the next big promise to be fulfilled.
In this respect, Acts 7:17 again becomes important. The time of another big promise of God is upon the world. The pieces are coming together rapidly in our day to bring about the next big promise of God. Jesus is coming soon. The birth pangs are right on time.
I encourage you to align your life and faith with the next big promise of God. We are the generation that will see the world evangelized, the antiChrist deceive the nations, a one world government take shape and many signs of the time fulfilled. Rather than living in denial, embrace this very unique and exciting time in world history. Wrap yourself for the glory of God around the times in which we are now living.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
